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Friday, April 25, 2014

Love and War by Suzy Knight Excerpt

Love and War is a sweet romantic fantasy focusing on the lives of
two princesses in the fictional kingdom of Estoria. Amelia and Sophia
Montford are twins and neither are eligible to inherit the crown unless
they marry. While Sophia is anxious to meet the husband their father has
chosen for her, Amelia would rather become a King in her own right than
become someone else’s Queen and has no real interest in marrying
anyone. However when their betrothals are announced the sisters are
shocked to discover that it is Amelia that will be marrying the
second-born prince of a neighboring country and inheriting the throne,
while Sophia is to be married to a mere Duke’s son. Things get more
complicated when Amelia starts to have feelings for the bodyguard her
betrothed sent to keep her safe.

Excerpt:

The nervous
princesses reached the double doors of the banquet hall. Sophia slid
her arm out of Amelia’s, grabbed her hand, and squeezed it tightly.
Just as suddenly as it started, the moment was over, and she reverted
back to the cold and dignified princess, leaving Amelia more nervous
than before.

“Stand up
straight, shoulders back, chin up, and smile!” hissed Sophia at her
sister. The doors opened, and a servant announced their arrival.
Gracefully, Sophia glided into the room, smiling at the many people
who stood for their entrance as she made her way to the high table.

Amelia swallowed
hard as she took in the many faces staring from within the room.
Biting her lip, she followed, trying to mimic her sister’s graceful
walk, her smile more a grimace of concentration. The hall was full to
capacity with visiting lords and ladies who had come to hear the
king’s announcement. Amelia felt her stomach churn at the thought
of embarrassing herself in front of all the visiting dignitaries.

They sat, Sophia
next to the queen and Amelia next to the king, as they always did.
The hall-full of people took their seats afterward. The king then
stood and raised his arms. “Welcome lords, ladies, and gentlefolk
to our home on this very special evening. Before we begin our meal,
there is something I wish to announce.”

Around the room,
people sat up straighter with anticipation. Everyone knew the girls
were of age to marry. In fact, they were past the usual age for
betrothal announcements. Sophia smiled indulgently, while Amelia bit
her lip, hoping the man her father chose would serve the country well
in these troubled times.

“As you know, my
wife and I have not been blessed with a son.” The queen reached for
his hand and squeezed it before she rose to stand beside him. “But
we do have two beautiful daughters, who have grown into very fine
women.” He gestured to the two princesses on either side of himself
and his queen.

“I have called
you here tonight to hear the betrothal announcement of my daughter,
who will become queen and rule Estoria at her husband’s side after
my death.” Amelia glanced at Sophia, her stomach churning as she
waited to hear who her sister would be betrothed to. Sophia looked
nervous about hearing her new husband’s name too, but she had
prepared for this her whole life. Amelia turned her gaze to the king
and queen, waiting for the inevitable announcement.

“I have arranged
a match with the second born prince of Prestor, Prince Damon.” The
room broke into excited whispers as the lords and ladies discussed
all the gossip they could remember about the prince. Sophia smiled
widely, but Amelia frowned. She knew of Prince Damon. He was said to
be handsome and chivalrous. He would make an excellent husband. He
was a few years older—twenty-four to Sophia’s eighteen. But while
Prestor was a beautiful country, it was separated from Estoria by the
Cantarrus Mountains. Weren’t there more suitable choices who would
be able to aid Estoria in the upcoming battle? She trusted her
father’s decision, but she couldn’t say she would have made the
same choice. Although, if I’m honest—that’s at least half
because I want the crown for myself.

The king held his
hands up for silence again. “Please, everyone, join me in
celebrating the betrothal of my eldest daughter, your crown princess,
the beautiful Princess Amelia.” There was a roar of applause, and
both Amelia and Sophia’s faces froze into identical masks of shock
and horror. Amelia was dragged upward to stand beside her father. She
felt like the floor had dropped away from beneath her, and she
clutched at her father’s arm to support herself. The roar of the
lords and ladies sounded so far away. She must have misheard. There
was no way he actually meant it.

“I have two
daughters, and my youngest, Sophia, has also become betrothed
tonight.” The king looked over at Sophia, oblivious to the taut
smile on her face. The queen reached out and helped her upright.

“Princess Sophia
will wed Duke Anton of Crestori’s oldest son, the honorable Sir
Graeme,” announced King Frederick, beaming at the crowd. He looked
around the room, grinning as the shouts of encouragement for the
princesses and blessings were called out for their marriages. “Now
let us celebrate with a feast!” he boomed, and turned to help his
queen and daughters back into their seats while the servants, who
waited around the edges of the hall, dashed forward with plates
towering with food and flagons of wine.

Amelia felt numb.
What will I do? Can I marry a man I have never met? How will he react
when he realizes he was conned out of a real princess for his bride
and instead gained a budding ambassador? How is Sophia going to
react? Questions ran through her head, too quickly for her to
consider answers for any of them. She glanced over at Sophia and
flinched to see her face still frozen in a false smile.

For the rest of
the evening Amelia picked at her meal, smiling and nodding every time
someone came forward to congratulate her. Later, when the food was
cleared away, she danced with everyone who asked, though it all felt
like a dream. Normally, she watched Sophia dancing, as no one was
fool enough to ask her. Now, she was suddenly the most sought out
woman, even though the men would surely regret risking their feet
afterward.

She was so numb it
was if she still sat beside her father, watching someone else get
twirled around on the dance floor by various lords, dukes, and sirs.
Perhaps I should always get earth-shattering news before a dance, it
seems to make me less clumsy, she thought idly as she watched the
room spin by.

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